10 replies to this topic

[Jamiesname]

I have a C. pennsylvanicus cocoon that hatched sometime today. It's laying upside down with its legs in the air. It's alive, it kicks from time to time and it's mandibles are moving. The other nanitics just walk over it like it's not there. This is the first time I've had a nanitic hatch where I've seen this happen. Every other time I've come home and the new nanitic would be standing (right side up) out of the way somewhere drying out. Is this one going to die?

Edited by Jamiesname, September 30 2017 - 12:40 PM.

[Pleming]

My Pogonomyrmex rugosus woorkers have laid sideways and kick when they are barely coming out of the pupae stage. I've also seen workers taken out of there cocoons prematurely from my other colonies and they'll lay there for a few days. 

[Jamiesname]

I've also seen workers taken out of there cocoons prematurely from my other colonies and they'll lay there for a few days.

I hope that's the case here. The nanitic is still upside down and only moves when it's touched by the other nanitics. It still kicks it's legs a little, moves it's mandibles and it's antennae.

[Scrixx]

Keep observing. My species don't form cocoons but my P. rugosus and P. subnitidus had new workers like that where they're laying down for a while and they'll move but they're not standing. They eventually do get up though. Maybe they opened the cocoons prematurely like Pleming mentioned which makes sense.

[Jamiesname]

I figured I'd keep updating this in case anyone else has this issue. It's been a full 24hrs and then some since I noticed this nanitic. It's condition is still the same - still alive, upside down and moving when disturbed.

Normally I wouldn't think twice about losing an ant, but this would be the queen's 4th nanitic and she needs all the help she can muster.

Anyways I'll update later, hopefully with better news.

Edited by Jamiesname, October 1 2017 - 11:53 AM.

[Jamiesname]

Earlier this morning i thought the nanitic was dead, I was almost positive in fact. This evening it's right side up and moving around, but it's bent into an unnatural position - nearly in half and it seems stuck that way. I'll post again if something changes.

[Jamiesname]

We're on day 5 and I think the nanitic has made some improvements. Earlier today it was hobbling around with a bent gaster, roughly at a 60 degree angle and it's legs appeared to be scrunched up - that's the only way I can describe them. I was thinking the other nanitics will probably end up killing it to conserve resources since it didn't appear at the time that it could contribute.

Tonight it's improved so much that when I was watching them I couldn't distinguish that nanitic from the other three.

I'll continue to update this when something happens one way or the other, but it seems like things are headed in the right direction.

Edited by Jamiesname, October 4 2017 - 5:56 PM.

[Jamiesname]

It appears that this will be the final update here because the nanitic in question is now indistinguishable from the other three. As stated above by Pleming, the cocoon was opened early - roughly a week early in fact.

With that said, thank you, Pleming.

[Antsinmycloset]

That... is really surprising and interesting to know. Thanks for all the updates.

[Pleming]

You are welcome

[ultraex2]

Good to know, will definitely keep this in mind going forward!